Patents Assigned to SpectraSensors, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11169357
    Abstract: A light source module may include a base with a support feature protruding from a surface of the base and securing a light source to direct radiation away from the surface. A lens cells may be attached proximate to the surface, optionally by being secured within a sleeve that is attached at one end to the surface. A multi-conductor part may include electrical conductors and a base temperature sensor that contacts the base. The base temperature sensor may be electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive elements and further connected to an optical ignition safety protection system configured to interrupt current to the light source if the base temperature sensor indicates that a temperature of the light source is outside of a safe range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Croglio, Jr., Peter Scott, Doug Beyer, Kevin Ludlum, Keith Helbley, David Peter
  • Patent number: 11079316
    Abstract: A laser spectrometer can be operated for analysis of one or more analytes present in a combustible gas mixture. The spectrometer can include one or more features that enable intrinsically safe operation. In other words, electrical, electronic, thermal, and/or optical energy sources can be limited within an hazardous are of the spectrometer where it is possible for an explosive gas mixture to exist. Methods, systems, articles and the like are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Benjamin Helbley, Juergen Dessecker, Harald Mueller, Nikolai Fink, William Boyle, Peter Dorn, Paulo Silva
  • Patent number: 11079324
    Abstract: A method for implementation by a laser spectrometer is provided. The method includes first scanning, by a control unit using a first set of laser spectrometer operating parameters, a first wavelength range by adjusting a wavelength of light of a beam emitted by a laser light source and passing through a sample gas. The first wavelength range encompasses a first spectral feature corresponding to a first constituent. The method also includes at least one second scanning, by the control unit using a second set of laser spectrometer operating parameters, a second wavelength range by adjusting the wavelength of light emitted from the laser light source and passing through the sample gas. The second wavelength range has a second spectral feature corresponding to at least one second constituent. The control unit also determines a first concentration of the first constituent and a second concentration of the at least one second constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Gary Yeh, Chih-Hsuan Chang
  • Patent number: 10746655
    Abstract: Detector data representative of an intensity of light that impinges on a detector after being emitted from a light source and passing through a gas over a path length can be analyzed using a first analysis method to obtain a first calculation of an analyte concentration in the volume of gas and a second analysis method to obtain a second calculation of the analyte concentration. The second calculation can be promoted as the analyte concentration upon determining that the analyte concentration is out of a first target range for the first analysis method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Xin Zhou
  • Patent number: 10643008
    Abstract: Background composition concentration data representative of an actual background composition of a sample gas can be used to model absorption spectroscopy measurement data obtained for a gas sample and to correct an analysis of the absorption spectroscopy data (e.g. for structural interference and collisional broadening) based on the modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Keith Benjamin Helbley, James Tedesco
  • Patent number: 10620045
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light source that emits a beam into a sample volume comprising an absorbing medium. Thereafter, at least one detector detects at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source. It is later determined, based on the detected at least a portion of the beam and by a controller, that a position and/or an angle of the beam should be changed. The beam emitted by the light source is then actively steered by an actuation element under control of the controller. In addition, a concentration of the absorbing media can be quantified or otherwise calculated (using the controller or optionally a different processor that can be local or remote). The actuation element(s) can be coupled to one or more of the light source, a detector or detectors, and a reflector or reflectors intermediate the light source and the detector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Keith Helbley, Douglas Beyer, Marc Winter
  • Patent number: 10488258
    Abstract: A spectrometer cell can include a spacer, at least one end cap, and at least one mirror with a reflective surface. The end cap can be positioned proximate to a first contact end of the spacer such that the end cap and spacer at least partially enclose an internal volume of the spectrometer cell. The mirror can be secured in place by a mechanical attachment that includes attachment materials that are chemically inert to at least one reactive gas compound. The mechanical attachment can hold an optical axis of the reflective surface in a fixed orientation relative to other components of the spectrometer cell and or a spectrometer device that comprises the spectrometer cell. The mirror can optionally be constructed of a material such as stainless steel, ceramic, or the like. Related methods, articles of manufacture, systems, and the like are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Lutz Keller, Alfred Feitisch, Peter Scott, Mathias Schrempel, Nathan St. John
  • Patent number: 10309828
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light source that emits a beam into a sample volume comprising an absorbing medium. Thereafter, at least one detector detects at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source. It is later determined, based on the detected at least a portion of the beam and by a controller, that a position and/or an angle of the beam should be changed. The beam emitted by the light source is then actively steered by an actuation element under control of the controller. In addition, a concentration of the absorbing media can be quantified or otherwise calculated (using the controller or optionally a different processor that can be local or remote). The actuation element(s) can be coupled to one or more of the light source, a detector or detectors, and a reflector or reflectors intermediate the light source and the detector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Keith Benjamin Helbley, Douglas Beyer
  • Patent number: 10224693
    Abstract: A first contact surface of a semiconductor laser chip can be formed to a target surface roughness selected to have a maximum peak to valley height that is substantially smaller than a barrier layer thickness. A barrier layer that includes a non-metallic, electrically-conducting compound and that has the barrier layer thickness can be applied to the first contact surface, and the semiconductor laser chip can be soldered to a carrier mounting along the first contact surface using a solder composition by heating the soldering composition to less than a threshold temperature at which dissolution of the barrier layer into the soldering composition occurs. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Gabi Neubauer, Mathias Schrempel
  • Patent number: 10180353
    Abstract: A frequency registration deviation is quantified for a field spectrum collected during analysis by a spectroscopic analysis system of a sample fluid when the spectroscopic analysis system has deviated from a standard calibration state. The field spectrum is corrected based on the frequency registration deviation using at least one spectral shift technique, and a concentration is calculated for at least one analyte represented by the field spectrum using the corrected field spectrum. Related systems, methods, and articles are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Gary Yeh, Adam S. Chaimowitz, William Jenko, Alfred Feitisch
  • Patent number: 10156513
    Abstract: A sample cell can be designed to minimize excess gas volume. Described features can be advantageous in reducing an amount of gas required to flow through the sample cell during spectroscopic measurements, and in reducing a time (e.g. a total volume of gas) required to flush the cell between sampling events. In some examples, contours of the inners surfaces of the sample cell that contact the contained gas can be shaped, dimensioned, etc. such that a maximum clearance distance is provided between the inner surfaces at one or more locations. Systems, methods, and articles, etc. are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Scott, Alfred Feitisch, Peter Dorn, Adam S. Chaimowitz, Hsu-Hung Huang, Mathias Schrempel, Lutz Keller
  • Patent number: 10073028
    Abstract: An optical head assembly for use in a spectrometer is provided that is configured to characterize one or more constituents within a sample gas. The assembly includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a cold side on one end and a hot side on an opposite end, a cold plate in thermal communication with the cold side of the TEC, a hot block in thermal communication with the hot side of the TEC, a light source in thermal communication with the cold plate such that a change in temperature of the TEC causes one or more properties of the light source (e.g., wavelength, etc.) to change, and an optical element in thermal communication with the cold plate positioned to collimate light emitted by the light source through the sample gas (such that properties of the optical element vary based on a change in temperature of the TEC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Cohen, Nathan St. John, Alfred Feitisch
  • Patent number: 10072980
    Abstract: At least one light source is configured to emit at least one beam into a sample volume of an absorbing medium. In addition, at least one detector is positioned to detect at least a portion of the beam emitted by the at least one light source. Further, at least one beam modification element is positioned between the at least one detector and the at least one light source to selectively change at least one of (i) a power intensity of, or (ii) a shape of the beam emitted by the at least one light source as detected by the at least one detector. A control circuit is coupled to the beam modification element. Related apparatus methods, articles of manufacture, systems, and the like are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Chih-Husan Chang, Hsu-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 10024788
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light source configured to emit a beam along a beam path through a sample volume comprising an analyte. Also included is at least one detector positioned to detect at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source, and at least one reflector positioned along the beam path intermediate the light source and the at least one detector having a surface roughness greater than a predefined level such as 20 ? RMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Peter Dorn, James Tedesco, Xiang Liu
  • Patent number: 9846117
    Abstract: Detector data representative of an intensity of light that impinges on a detector after being emitted from a light source and passing through a gas over a path length can be analyzed using a first analysis method to obtain a first calculation of an analyte concentration in the volume of gas and a second analysis method to obtain a second calculation of the analyte concentration. The second calculation can be promoted as the analyte concentration upon determining that the analyte concentration is out of a first target range for the first analysis method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch
  • Patent number: 9816860
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light source that emits a beam into a sample volume comprising an absorbing medium. Thereafter, at least one detector detects at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source. It is later determined, based on the detected at least a portion of the beam and by a controller, that a position and/or an angle of the beam should be changed. The beam emitted by the light source is then actively steered by an actuation element under control of the controller. In addition, a concentration of the absorbing media can be quantified or otherwise calculated (using the controller or optionally a different processor that can be local or remote). The actuation element(s) can be coupled to one or more of the light source, a detector or detectors, and a reflector or reflectors intermediate the light source and the detector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Keith Benjamin Helbley, Douglas Beyer
  • Patent number: 9711937
    Abstract: A first contact surface of a semiconductor laser chip can be formed to a target surface roughness selected to have a maximum peak to valley height that is substantially smaller than a barrier layer thickness. A barrier layer that includes a non-metallic, electrically-conducting compound and that has the barrier layer thickness can be applied to the first contact surface, and the semiconductor laser chip can be soldered to a carrier mounting along the first contact surface using a solder composition by heating the soldering composition to less than a threshold temperature at which dissolution of the barrier layer into the soldering composition occurs. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Gabi Neubauer, Mathias Schrempel
  • Patent number: 9696204
    Abstract: A frequency registration deviation is quantified for a field spectrum collected during analysis by a spectroscopic analysis system of a sample fluid when the spectroscopic analysis system has deviated from a standard calibration state. The field spectrum is corrected based on the frequency registration deviation using at least one spectral shift technique, and a concentration is calculated for at least one analyte represented by the field spectrum using the corrected field spectrum. Related systems, methods, and articles are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SPECTRASENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Gary Yeh, Adam S. Chaimowitz, William Jenko, Alfred Feitisch
  • Patent number: 9646949
    Abstract: A first contact surface of a semiconductor laser chip can be formed to a first target surface roughness and a second contact surface of a carrier mounting can be formed to a second target surface roughness. A first bond preparation layer comprising a first metal can optionally be applied to the formed first contact surface, and a second bond preparation layer comprising a second metal can optionally be applied to the formed second contact surface. The first contact surface can be contacted with the second contact surface, and a solderless securing process can secure the semiconductor laser chip to the carrier mounting. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Gabi Neubauer, Mathias Schrempel
  • Patent number: 9618391
    Abstract: Validation verification data quantifying an intensity of light reaching a detector of a spectrometer from a light source of the spectrometer after the light passes through a validation gas across a known path length can be collected or received. The validation gas can include an amount of an analyte compound and an undisturbed background composition that is representative of a sample gas background composition of a sample gas to be analyzed using a spectrometer. The sample gas background composition can include one or more background components. The validation verification data can be compared with stored calibration data for the spectrometer to calculate a concentration adjustment factor, and sample measurement data collected with the spectrometer can be modified using this adjustment factor to compensate for collisional broadening of a spectral peak of the analyte compound by the background components. Related methods, articles of manufacture, systems, and the like are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Feitisch, Xiang Liu, Hsu-Hung Huang, Wenhai Ji, Richard L. Cline